PowerRunner Case Study

Background

PowerRunner is a software and analytics company serving electric and gas utilities with advanced enterprise analytic solutions. Their platform bridges operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), enabling utilities to better manage, analyze, and act on complex operational data. With strong data governance foundations and flexible digital deployment options, PowerRunner helps utilities modernize operations, improve reliability, and unlock greater value from their data assets.

PowerRunner is a cutting-edge enterprise analytics solution purpose-built for utilities. It seamlessly bridges the gap between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). By unifying historical and real-time measurement data from Smart Meters, DMS, ADMS, SCADA, and IIOT systems with contextual information from IT systems and external data sources, PowerRunner establishes a comprehensive connectivity model spanning the utility's entire network.

As PowerRunner's client base expanded, the company sought to sharpen its focus on product innovation and software delivery while ensuring successful implementations across a growing portfolio of utility customers.

Challenge

PowerRunner experienced rapid growth as demand increased for its analytics and operational software across multiple utility clients. Initially, PowerRunner managed system integration and client implementations internally. While this approach worked at smaller scale, it became increasingly difficult as the number of clients and concurrent projects grew.

Managing implementations in-house required significant effort in program management, client coordination, testing, training, and deployment. This limited PowerRunner's ability to focus on its core strength: developing and enhancing its software platform. To continue scaling effectively, PowerRunner needed a model that would allow it to operate more like a pure-play software provider while maintaining high-quality, consistent implementations for its utility customers.

Solution

PowerRunner engaged COTOC LLC as a system integrator and professional services provider to support software implementations and ongoing operations for utility clients.

COTOC's scope of work includes end-to-end system integration and implementation services, acting as the primary delivery partner between PowerRunner and its utility customers. Key responsibilities include:

• Program and project management for new client implementations
• Full system implementation lifecycle support, including functional requirements gathering and specification development
• Close collaboration with PowerRunner's development teams and subject matter experts
• Coordination with utility client project managers and SMEs, serving as the primary interface between client and PowerRunner
• Testing, training, go-live support, and deployment cutover
• Change management and training to support successful adoption within client organizations
• Maintenance and operational support for existing and ongoing client deployments

By outsourcing implementation responsibilities to COTOC, PowerRunner was able to shift focus away from project delivery logistics and toward software innovation, roadmap development, and product scalability.

Results & Impact

Through its partnership with COTOC, PowerRunner has successfully scaled its implementation model and delivered its software across a growing set of utility clients, including organizations such as NYPA, Ameren, ComEd, DTE, and Glendale.

Across these clients, COTOC has supported roughly a dozen implementation projects, often delivering multiple initiatives within the same utility environment. This repeatable delivery model has resulted in:

• Faster and more consistent software implementations
• Improved coordination between PowerRunner, utility clients, and internal stakeholders
• Stronger client relationships driven by smoother deployments and clearer accountability
• Increased scalability, allowing PowerRunner to support more clients without expanding its internal professional services footprint

In some cases, the engagement can be viewed as a focused multi-project rollout within a single utility—such as DTE—demonstrating how the model supports ongoing expansion and iterative deployments over time.

By leveraging COTOC as a dedicated system integrator, PowerRunner has strengthened its ability to grow as a software company while ensuring successful, high-quality implementations for utility customers.